Honda is introducing a fully redesigned Pilot for the 2023 model year. The midsize SUV arrives with Honda’s more upscale design, a redesigned V6 engine, and a new TrailSport trim for increased off-roading capability. The full redesign ushers in the fourth generation of the Pilot. Show
The 2023 Honda Pilot adopts Honda’s new design that can be found on the new CR-V. The front end of the SUV features a square grille, while the rectangular headlights are blockier than before. Compared to the previous generation, which had a rounded front fascia, the Pilot has a more squared-off design for a more rugged look. The silhouette of the Pilot portrays its attempt to be more rugged than before with a blocky rear end. The oval taillights have shrunk and are smaller than before, a modest rear spoiler sits on top of the liftgate, and the rear bumper has a more prominent rugged design. The interior design of the 2023 Pilot has changed drastically for the new model year. The cabin also moves to sharing a similar design to Honda’s new CR-V and Civic with a simple dashboard, an infotainment screen that sits on top of the dashboard, and a streamlined center console. Compared to last year, the 2023 Pilot has grown in size, now utilizing a wheelbase that 2.8 inches longer. The larger size results in 2.4 more inches of legroom in the second row and 0.5 inches of third-row legroom. The Pilot will be available with a removable middle seat in the second row that can be stowed underneath the cargo area. Additionally, the Pilot’s cargo capacity has expanded to 114 cubic feet of total cargo space.  Standard tech features on the 2023 Honda Pilot will include a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A nine-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone compatibility is available. The Pilot will also be available with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. We expect Honda to provide more details on the 2023 Pilot closer to the SUV’s on-sale date. Every Pilot comes with an updated 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive will be standard with the Pilot, while Honda’s second-gen torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system is available. Just like the new CR-V, the 2023 Pilot gets Honda’s updated Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features. The suite now has a new camera and a revised radar system. Standard safety features will include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and traffic jam assist.
FIND THE BEST PRICE Comparisons are limited to 3 vehicles You will need to remove one of the selected vehicles in order to add another one. The 2023 Honda Pilot midsize 3-row SUV marks an all-new generation with more space, refinement, and power than before. We expect pricing to start at around $39,000. The Pilot has always been a fine midsize SUV. The 2022 model was among our best family cars. Now Honda has produced what’s likely to be its Pilot and one of the strongest choices in this category. Cabin space is abundant for passengers and cargo alike; seating arrangements are versatile; the engine is muscular. And there’s a TrailSport version for families who like a bit of adventure. Made in Lincoln, Alabama, at the same Honda plant that has produced the other three generations of Pilot, this new model was made to ace all the current crash tests as well as meet higher safety standards in the future. It’s shaping up to win yet another of our family vehicle awards. 2023 Honda Pilot PricingWe expect the 2023 Honda Pilot to start at around $39,000. The range kicks off with Sport trim and goes up to the plush Elite version, which should be about $51K.
For comparison, the Subaru Ascent, Chevrolet Traverse, and Hyundai Palisade all start in the mid-30s. The Kia Telluride is priced from $35.7K, with the Toyota Highlander at $36.4K, and the Ford Explorer at around $36.8K. Slightly more upscale and with an off-road heritage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L begins at $43K. Before buying a new Pilot midsize SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. This latest generation of Pilot will no doubt follow in the impressive tire tracks of its predecessor by retaining value at a rate that’s comfortably above average. What’s New for 2023Welcome to Generation Four of the Honda Pilot midsize 3-row SUV. It’s bigger, more versatile, and more powerful than before. And it has greater off-road abilities in the TrailSport model. Driving the 2023 Honda PilotOur first taste of the redesigned Pilot came in the new TrailSport version, and only on a trail. But we can already tell that the 285-horsepower V6 engine is more than up to the task. The TrailSport isn’t meant for the extreme rock-climbing heroics that a Jeep Wrangler could handle, but it’s arguably the truest off-roader among its closest competitors. It has its own special suspension set up for greater axle articulation and wheel travel than a regular tarmac-spec new Pilot, and rides an inch higher. This makes it a comfortable drive, even over rough surfaces. The TrailSport’s all-wheel drive system can send 70% of torque to the rear wheels — with the ability to send all of that to just one wheel if the other is losing grip and traction. Active noise cancellation is standard, while Honda has also paid particular attention to sound insulation in the quest for a quiet cabin. Not even the all-terrain tires of the TrailSport model should be intrusive. We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of midsize 3-row SUVs, including early versions of this new Pilot. Effective InteriorDuring our brief first acquaintance with the 2023 Pilot SUV in the top Elite trim, the front seats felt well-shaped and supportive, like they would be comfortable throughout a long journey. Honda claims class-leading interior space. It certainly seems expansive enough in all three rows. Legroom in the second row is now 40.8 inches, about half an inch more than the Kia Telluride. The company has also improved space and comfort in the third row. The 2023 Pilot can accommodate a total of eight occupants. One clever feature in the Touring and Elite trims is a removable middle seat in the second row, making third-row access even easier. When not in use, the seat folds up and fits into a dedicated space beneath the cargo floor. It weighs about 35 pounds and should be fairly easy to click in or out of its position. On the subject of cargo space, the new Pilot has more than ever: 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, filling out to 113.7 cubic feet behind the front seats. That’s massive. The Pilot has 14 cup holders, eight of which can handle 32-ounce bottles. And the storage space in the center console can take a tablet, such as an iPad. Naturally, the Elite version has fine materials like perforated leather seating surfaces, as well as plenty of tech. But the mid-pack TrailSport model is also well-appointed. Fresh ExteriorHonda has been busy launching fresh HR-V, CR-V, Civic, and Accord generations. Now there’s the new Pilot midsize 3-row SUV. As well as their modernity, they all share another trait — bold new looks. The company’s latest design approach steers away from the anonymity of older models in favor of greater presence. On the Pilot, this makes itself apparent with the upright grille, large clamshell hood, and flared fenders. Diffused Sky Blue is an exclusive paint color for the TrailSport. A new set of options from the Honda Performance Development (HPD) division includes bronze-finished alloy wheels. On a more practical note, the new Pilot is 3.4 inches longer overall than the outgoing model, with most of that creating a longer wheelbase (the distance between the axles). The result is more interior space, as well as the potential for a better ride quality. Our Favorite Features and TechFinger rest Digital instrument cluster Traffic Jam Assist Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Wireless charging Under-body protection Engine & TransmissionSame, but different. The 2023 Pilot SUV has a naturally aspirated (no turbos or superchargers) 3.5-liter V6, just like its predecessors. But this is a new engine, making more power than any Pilot has enjoyed before. Output is 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Honda is renowned for making smooth and refined V6 engines, and this one is pleasantly muscular. But some rivals have more. The Kia Telluride, for example, makes 291 horsepower, and the Chevy Traverse brings 310 ponies to the races. Replacing a 9-speed transmission, a new 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2023 Pilot feeds power to the front wheels (FWD) in basic form, or to an all-wheel drive (AWD) system that’s standard in the TrailSport and Elite trims, optional elsewhere. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, which is easily enough for a trailer with an ATV or a couple of dirt bikes, that kind of thing. 3.5-liter V6 3-Year/36,000-Mile WarrantyThe basic new-vehicle warranty from Honda is for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain has its own coverage of 5 years or 60,000 miles. These arrangements are typical for the class. Honda includes 2 years or 24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance as well. KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles Will 2023 Pilot have a hybrid option?This three-row Pilot is the largest, most powerful Honda SUV in history, with a 285-hp V6 engine. There is no hybrid version.
Does the Honda Pilot come as a hybrid?The first-ever Honda Pilot Hybrid would've made the midsize SUV appealing to fuel economy- and environment-conscious customers. However, it turns out, Honda will take its time to electrify the Pilot, and is not ready with a hybrid yet!
Is the Honda Pilot changing for 2023?What's New for 2023? The Pilot has been entirely redesigned for 2023, complete with updated styling to match the newest models in the Honda lineup, such as the smaller CR-V SUV and the Civic compact sedan and hatchback.
How much is a 2022 Honda Pilot hybrid?How Much Is a 2022 Honda Pilot? The 2022 Honda Pilot starts at $39,060. The Pilot comes in five different trim levels: EX-L, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. AWD is optional on the EX-L, Special Edition, and Touring and will add $2,000 to the starting price.
|
